Chapter 66
As darkness began to settle over the square, the diligent lamplighters lit the gas lamps, flooding the streets with their glow.
Enough time had passed since they parted—she must have gone back by now.
“Alright. Let’s head to Grenville.”
Franz nodded and climbed into the carriage. He pressed his tired eyes with his fingers, leaned back, and closed them.
“If you don’t intend to take responsibility until the end, then stop, Franz.”
The weight of the word responsibility pressed heavily on him.
What kind of responsibility was he supposed to take?
Was he supposed to take responsibility for Iella’s entire life?
Franz gave a short, bitter laugh.
He couldn’t claim he had no responsibility at all, but he couldn’t see what kind of responsibility could possibly fall on him either. Why was he the one to be blamed?
“Maybe because I’m selfish down to the bone.”
He turned his gaze toward the window, a self-mocking smile flickering on his lips.
In the distance, the cathedral stood tall above the symbolic 120 steps of the square. Its bright lights glittered brilliantly, illuminating the plaza. From up there, the entire Pelga Square could be seen at a glance.
“Iella…!”
The moment her name came to mind, Franz tugged on the reins, stopping the carriage.
“To the cathedral steps.”
“Right now, sir?”
“Yes.”
Though Tom Wagon looked puzzled, he turned the carriage across the square without question.
Soon after, Franz stepped down from the carriage and stood before the stairs, hesitating.
It was probably nothing.
He shook his head. There was no way she’d still be here.
And yet, his feet began climbing the steps on their own.
His long strides carried him upward, two or three steps at a time. Despite the haste, there was no sign of panic or impatience on his face—if anything, his movements were unhurried, even elegant.
Halfway up, the backlit glow made him squint.
Could it be…
But the closer he got, the clearer the silhouette became.
What was this stifling feeling?
Franz closed his eyes briefly, steadying himself. When he opened them again, the flicker of agitation had calmed.
The short distance he covered one step at a time felt endless. Throughout, his gaze never left Iella.
She too stared back at him, clutching her sketchbook tighter against her chest. The man before her—was he really the person she knew? Her mind went blank, refusing to form a single thought.
His polished shoes stopped just a few steps below where she sat. As her disbelieving eyes widened, Andrew’s words replayed in her mind.
“If you don’t intend to take responsibility until the end, then stop, Franz.”
Well… I suppose I’m too selfish for that. Responsibility? Fine. I’ll take it.
“How did you… here…?”
Iella’s words faltered, her usually composed eyes trembling.
She could have avoided him when Franz drew near, kneeling before her with one knee bent. His hand under her chin lifted her face so gently she could have brushed it away with ease—yet she couldn’t.
It wasn’t his touch that restrained her.
It was his overwhelming presence, and the unfamiliar light in his eyes.
The dark blue eyes flickered with reflected lamplight, and when her gaze met his, her mind went white, thoughtless. His face drew closer—too close.
“Ah…”
A short gasp slipped between their joined lips.
She had expected his lips to be cold, but they were warm, almost meltingly soft and moist.
The vivid sensation stole her breath. His familiar scent—forest and musk—invaded her lungs, dizzying her.
Franz gently sucked at her lips, then bit the stiff ones when she failed to respond.
“Ow…”
The sting barely had time to register before his tongue pressed past her lips. Her eyes flew wide open in shock as his invasion left her frozen.
What… what just entered my mouth?
What she had only vaguely imagined in dreams was infinitely more overwhelming in reality. It was surreal—unbelievable.
Before she could react, his lips sealed tighter over hers, devouring her whole.
He licked every corner of her mouth, pulling her tongue into his with both tender and forceful suction. Her lips, impossibly soft, trembled under the hot breath between them. She couldn’t think straight.
The memory of that night in the cabin resurfaced.
Was this what it felt like?
Her lips were even softer than he remembered, sweet enough to make his head spin.
He hadn’t meant for it to come to this. How was he supposed to deal with the consequences now?
Yet the moment their eyes met—her clear, trembling gaze—an unfamiliar shiver ran through him. Time seemed to stop, the world emptying until only the two of them remained.
Have I developed the foolish habit of falling in love at first sight?
No—that wasn’t it.
Then what—did he love her so unbearably he couldn’t stand it?
Impossible.
He couldn’t be certain of anything, but even if he mocked himself for the irrational impulse, he couldn’t deny it: right now, in this moment, he wanted her.
Drunk on the intoxicating sweetness, Franz barely managed to suppress his escalating desire. With regret, he slowly drew his lips away, but still pressed his face into her neck.
“You’re driving me insane…”
Her body’s faint fragrance only stoked his restraint to breaking point. Every nerve in his body thrummed taut, her scent unendingly luring him in.
Just a little more.
His lips brushed her slender neck where her pulse fluttered weakly. Once, then again.
The thirst deepened. He sucked harder, and her heartbeat leapt erratically, heat rushing through her. A shiver raced down her spine.
“A-ah—no…”
Iella trembled helplessly, overwhelmed.
She tried to pull away, but his arms locked firmly around her waist. She couldn’t move.
Her legs shook as new, confusing sensations layered atop the sting. A tingling raced down her back, crashing over her like unbearable waves. A weak moan escaped despite her effort to hold it back.
Her breath came hot and ragged, chest heaving. Unaware even that she was aroused, she drowned in the strange fever overtaking her.
Unable to stand, she leaned into Franz for support, panting. Her face, flushed crimson with heat and unshed tears, betrayed her turmoil.
The tenderness from the kiss now churned into crushing shame. Why was he humiliating her so openly?
“If it’s humiliation you want, you’ve done enough,” she whispered bitterly, pushing him away.
Franz slowly lifted his head.
“…Humiliation?”
“Yes. If you didn’t mean to disgrace me, then why… why would you do this…?”
Her denial cut sharper than expected. Seeing her wear the wounded face of a victim twisted his gut. If he could, he would’ve laughed at the absurdity.
“Iella, you enjoyed it too.”
His voice was calm, but mocking, laced with certainty.
“No, I didn’t!”
“Then hide those trembling eyes before you lie again.”
His piercing gaze seemed to say, Am I wrong? Leaving her speechless once more.
She turned her face away, on the verge of tears. The sight hit him like ice water. Guilt swept over him.
“….”
Her reddened eyes finally overflowed, tears streaming silently down her cheeks.
The sight of Iella crying struck him harder than he imagined. Her quiet, wordless sobs and trembling lips pierced his chest with pain. Adding to it, the small wound on her lip made it feel as though he’d committed a cruel act against a pure soul.
Franz stared at her for a long time before reaching out a hand toward her face.
“No.”
She recoiled instantly, stepping back. Like a frightened bird, she curled in on herself, shoulders trembling.
“….”
What could he say to her now?
He didn’t want to apologize—not for that brief moment when his heart had leapt at her. Denying that would be like denying his own feelings.
“I didn’t mean to dishonor you. So I won’t apologize.”
But perhaps that was the wrong choice. Iella’s sobs burst forth even louder.
“Hic… huuhhh—”
Her pent-up sorrow spilled into full-blown wails. She cried louder and louder, as if to make sure he saw.
“Don’t cry, Iella.”
Flustered, Franz didn’t know what to do. It was as if he’d pressed some unknown switch inside her.
“Please, just stop crying. I’m terrible at comforting someone in tears.”
But she sobbed so bitterly that even comforting her seemed impossible. No matter how much she wept, more tears came pouring out endlessly.
